Wolter ZR6HAM seems to be the only radio amateur still relatively active on the satellites in ZS and uses The COOL SatComms facility to do his logging.

Well this forum was created for ZS HOTA and an invitation was forwarded with zero response. Our HOTA contact simply left The COOL CW Operator's Club WhatsApp group without an explanation.

Another waste of my time .....

Just in case you missed it, we are opening the  COOL CW OPERATOR CLUB for the Q & A sessions every Tuesday, night from 7 pm for an hour. To try answering  any questions related to your learn , Ed ZS6UT very kindly joined to perhaps help answer questions.  I will also use this training group live for you to send code to the group. It's an intimidating environment.

I also need to stress, too, that all SSB friends with an inquiring mind are heartily welcome ?

Another proud way the COOL is exercising an unbiased attitude, loving all and including all. Follow this link to join my WhatsApp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/FSeOuw6CmsqFqY...e=ems_wa_t  Share this link with the SOTA, HOTA POTA friends if they wish to join.

I've just created this forum. Something more permanent than a WhatsApp group but should not be used in the same way. Try not to include the previous message in your reply it just clutters up the whole discussion.

We have such an onslaught against RaDAR and any mention of The COOL. There are certain individuals who promote this and we know who they are. Not much we can do about it really other than flying the flag for both RaDAR and The COOL. If others do not want to belong then so be it.

Some are battling to get into the COOL Forum. I've tried to make it as simple as possible but certainly I locked down on scammers and spammers. There were a few but did not get too far.

So on Saturday we're going to have some RaDAR FUN again. I must still get my QCX RaDAR active again to be able to go into the field with it. Of course 40m CW only. As for SSB I no longer have a SSB rig and don't intend to upgrade either. If CW can't do it for me then that's it. That does not say I'm anti SSB, it's just my fate. Everyone knows my disaster x5105 history and that made me who I am today. I take full responsibility but trust some people less.

Still, I think The COOL has reached its full potential and probably not much more development will take place. As long as The COOL remains active there is hope for us that believe in it.

73 de Eddie, ZS6BNE

Forum admin and COOL developer

After many months of development as the needs changed, The COOL has reached its final destination. A very user friendly system.

Do I really need to exsplain how much I enjoy RaDAR ??? Last year I deployed a RaDAR almost everyday, but felt discouraged after about 700 deployments that the regulars were fading away, getting married and so on. Coming from a Special Forces Military back ground, I love being on the CHASE and enjoy being CHASSED ! But then, lets be fair not everone is like me LOL

I run a ZS6BKW antenna which does one or two extra bands than compared to the G5RV. Bought mine when I was in the UK at my other homebase. At the time the demand for this antenna was so big, the UK ran out of stock and I had to get is shipped to my door from Germany. For space limitations not a bad antenna at all.

I still think that the IC7100 is the best value for money, it's non bulky, 100 watts, does all bands including Dstar if that's your kind of thing. Unlike other Icoms which claim to do everythibg which they do not. IC7300 does not do 2m or 70cm AFAIK, and certainly not Dstar either.

The COOL offer practical CW lessons for free over the internet, here are some sample teachings which I conducted; if you are practicing and are interested to allow me or any other COOL member to help you please ask here on the forum. 

Pleasde exsplore the play list https://youtu.be/bh5LZekV2Gs?si=WhfDtaoDZstsNm-T

The idea was to create some space for the new ham radio CW operator, without feeling intimidated trying to break into a conversation at normal speeds. This event is held twice yearly during March and November, however the dates might change year on year.
Come showcase what you have learnt, during your CW Morse Code Journey with us, for a whole week.  So take full advantage of it.